Container having a time controlled locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A container such as, for example, a cigarette container having a time controlled locking mechanism whereby the user can only have access to the container contents at predetermined times, the container having a time controlled locking mechanism wherein the tensioning of the mechanism is effected automatically by the user as a consequence of the steps he may take to open the container at the predetermined time.

United States Patent 1 1 Belkin 1451 Aug. 7, 1973 CONTAINER HAVING ATIME 3,030,795 4 1962 Vogt 70 272 CONTROLLED LOCKING MECHANISM 3,363,4391/1968 Kende 70/272 [76] Inventor: Giora Belkin, 37 I-Iamaagal St.,FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Ramat-Gan. Israel 623,325 5/1949 GreatBritain 70 273 [22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1971 Primary ExaminerAlbcrt G.Craig, Jr. Appl 208365 Attornvy-S. Delvalle Goldsmith. Aaron M. Schzu'fand Lester Horwitz el al. [30] Foreign Appllcatlon Priority Date Jan. 5,1971 Israel 35957 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. 01. 70/272, 206 41 1) A containerSuch as, for example, a cigarette container [51] [BL CL" E05, 43/00 o65/52, A24f 15/12 having a time controlled locking mechanism whereby 581Field of Search 70/272, 273, 274 the user can y have access to thecontainer contents at predetermined times, the container having a time 5References Cited controlled locking mechanism wherein the tensioningUNITED STATES PATENTS of the mechanism is effected automatically by theuser 2 675 693 4/1954 E 70,272 as a consequence of the steps he may taketo open the mery h 2,681,560 6/1954 Shuttleworth et al. 70/273 con met epredetermmed 14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG H915 3750.435

SHEET 1 0F 4 PAIENIEU MIR 7 I975 SHEEI 3 BF 4 CONTAINER HAVING A TIMECONTROLLED LOCKING MECHANISM This invention relates to a containerhaving a time controlled locking mechanism. The invention had particularbut not exclusive application to cigarette containers having such timecontrolled locking mechanisms. It will be realized, however, that theinvention is equally applicable to other forms of containers wherein itis desired to limit accessibility to the contents thereof topredetermined times.

It is well known that as cigarette smoking becomes a fixed habit, theact of reaching for and lighting the cigarette tends to become automaticand to be carried out without conscious attention. It is thus verydifficult for a person with whom this habit has become ingrained todecrease his consumption of cigarettes as long as a supply of cigarettesis readily available to him. It has therefore been suggested that apossibly effective way of overcoming excessive smoking is to present ahindrance thereto as a result of which the extraction and lighting of acigarette becomes a matter of conscious choice and deliberate action. Inthis way it is hoped to gradually space out the smoking of cigarettesover intervals of time which can be of increasing length.

In pursuance of this aim various proposals have been made for theprovision of cigarette containers having a time controlled lockingmechanism as a result of which the smoker can only have access to hiscigarettes at predetermined times and it is only at such predeterminedtimes that his reaching for a cigarette, whether instinctive or planned,will result in obtaining a cigarette.

Such heretofore proposed containers have all included clockworkmechanisms of greater or lesser complexity with the requirement fortensioning the mechanisms so as to ensure their effective operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcontainer having a time controlled locking mechanism wherein thetensioning of the mechanism is effected automatically by the user as aconsequence of the steps he takes to open the container at thedetermined time.

According to the present invention there is provided a container havinga time controlled locking mechanismcomprising at least two portionscoupled together for movement into and out of a closing relationship,latch means located within the container and comprising a pair ofcomponent latching members respectively coupled to said portions forlocking said portions together, a releasing member located in one ofsaid portions, manually actuatable means accessible from outside thecontainer and coupled to the releasing member, displacement of theformer resulting in displacement of the latter into releasing engagementwith one of said latch components, a spring biased displaceable detentmounted in said one portion and arranged, in the locking condition ofthe container to inhibit movement of the releasing member, a clockworkmechanism located in said one portion and drivingly coupled to adisplacing element, a predetermined displacement of said displacingelement in a given direction resulting in the displacement of the detentagainst its biasing and the consequent freeing of the release member formovement and tensioning means coupled to the manually actuatable meansand adapted to engage with the displacing element so that thedisplacement of the former required to effect releasing displacement ofthe re leasing member is accompanied by displacement of the displacingelement in an opposite direction thereby causing tensioning of theclockwork mechanism.

Thus with a container in accordance with the present invention andespecially a cigarette container, the user will only be able to open thecontainer and have access to its contents when a predetermined timeinterval has elapsed. Even after the elapsing of this predetermined timeinterval opening of the container does not take place automatically butis dependent on a conscious action to be undertaken by the user indisplacing the manually actuatable means.

Preferably the container is provided with means whereby thepredetermined time intervals can be varied and thus as the smoker, forexample, as he becomes gradually weaned of his habit, can arrange forthese time intervals to be of increasing length. Preferably visual meansare provided for giving an indication of the time intervals involvedand/or remainder of time before opening is facilitated.

As an optional feature of the present invention the container can beprovided with emergency means whereby access can be had to the contentsof the box without waiting for the expiry of the time interval but onlyas a result of a conscious action on the part of the user which actioncan be rendered quite difficult. Such emergency means may be called intouse when, for example, the clockwork mechanism fails or when the userfinds the strain of waiting for the elapsing of the predetermined timeinterval overwhelming.

For a better understanding of the present invention anti to show how thesame can be carried out in practice reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respective side and front elevations of a timecontrolled cigarette container in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectioned view on an enlarged scale of aportion of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and taken along a lineIIIIII of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the container shown in FIG 3 takenalong the line IV-IV (just prior to opening), and

FIG. 5 is a sectioned plan view of the container taken along the lineV-V of the view shown in FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the cigarette containerconsists essentially of a rectangular box 1 comprising a lid portion 2and a body portion 3 coupled together by a hinge 4 which extendstransversely across a rear wall of the box.

Located within the lid portion 2 is an inner transverse wall 5 which isspaced from an outer transverse wall 6 of the box and which definebetween them a region 7 in which is located the entire time controlmechanism now to be described.

An elongated bar-like locking member 8 constituting a latching memberextends through the lid portion 2 adjacent a side wall 9a thereof. Themember 8 is pivotally mounted on an axle 10 which is located within anelongated slot 11 formed in the locking member 8. The axle I0constitutes the head of an axle pin 10a located within and secured tothe inner wall transverse 5. Thus the bar 8 is capable of pivotalmovement about the axle l0 and is also capable of limited movement in anaxial direction with respect to the axle I0. Abutting the axle 10 is anaxle retaining ring 12 secured to an inner side wall 13a which isparallel to and spaced from the outer side wall 9a and between which thelocking member 8 extends. Located between a corresponding outer sidewall 9b of the body portion 3 of the container 11 and an innercorresponding side wall 13b of the body portion 3b which is aligned withand constituting an extension of the inner side wall 13a is a fixedelongated anchoring member 14. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3 of thedrawings the anchoring member 14 terminates at its upper end in a flange14a whilst the locking member 8 terminates in a semi-barbed portion 8aand a rounded end portion 8b, the rounded portion 8b being separatedfrom the semi-barbed portion 8a by an inset 8c.

The upper end of the locking member 8 is provided on the one hand with ashoulder 15 and on the other hand with a branch limb 16 (see FIG. 4)which terminates at its free end with a downwardly extending toothedportion 16a. As seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings in the locked position ofthe container the shoulder 15 rests on a fixed abutment 17 secured tothe lid.

An elongated leaf spring 18 is pivotally mounted at a turned overportion 18a thereof on a fixed axle 19 secured to the lid portion 2 andconsists of a first substantially horizontal limb 18b which is adaptedto press on the shoulder 15 thereby biasing the locking member 8downwardly and of a downwardly directed limb 18 adapted to press on themember 8 so as to tend to rotate it in a clockwise direction about theaxle when viewed as in FIG. 3.

A clockwork mechanism 20 is schematically shown as being located in thelid region 7. This mechanism 20 drives a boss 21 which is formedintegrally with a driven disc 22. Secured to and projecting outwardlyfrom the disc 22 is a releasing lug 23 whilst secured to and projectingupwardly from the disc 22 and located along a diameter thereofasymmetrically with respect to the center of the disc 22 are a'pair oftensioning lugs 24a and 24b. A peripheral portion 25 of the disc 22 isformed with radial serrations into any one of which the toothed portion160 of the branch limb 16 can extend thereby preventing the driven disc22 from rotating.

Spaced above the driven disc 22 is a tensioning disc 26 having acentrally disposed, downwardly directed centering axle 27 located in acorresponding recess 21a formed in the boss 21. Secured to and extendingcentrally upwardly from the tensioning disc 26 is a square sectionedcoupling block 28. Formed integrally with and extending downwardly fromthe edge of the tensioning disc 26 is an engaging lug 29a whilst securedto an extension 30 of the tensioning disc 26 at a position diametricallyopposite that Of the lug 29a is a downwardly extending engaging lug 29b.Thus the lugs 29a and 2% are located along a diameter of the tensioningdisc 26 and are located asymmetrically with respect to the center of thetensioning disc 26 in a manner similar to the asymmetric location of thetensioning lugs 24a and 24b on the driven disc 22.

The coupling block 28 extends through a cylindrical bore formed in acollar member 31. The lower end of the collar member 31 fits into acentral aperture formed in a releasing disc 32 sandwiched between thetensioning disc 26 and the outer transverse wall 6 of the lid portion 2,the collar 31 being secured to the releasing disc 32 so that rotation ofthe collar 31 results in rotation of the releasing disc 32. Extendingdiametrically out of the releasing disc 32 is a releasing arm 33 whosefree end 34 projects downwardly.

The upper surface of the collar member 31 is radially serrated and mateswith a correspondingly radially serrated surface of an annular cap 35through which passes a bolt 36 which screws into a correspondinglythreaded bore formed in the coupling block 28 thereby securing the cap35 to the block 28. Located within an annular cylindrical recess 37formed in the cap 35 is a compression spring 38 which is anchored at itsupper end to the cap 35 and at its lower end to an upwardly extendingboss 39 formed integrally with the outer transverse wall 6 of the lid 2of the box. The upper end of the square sectioned coupling block 28formed in the cap 35 projects into a correspondingly square sectionedbore 40 centrally.

As can be seen when the cap 35 is screwed to the coupling block 28 bymeans of the bolt 36 the spring 38 is compressed and the cap 35 iscoupled to the collar 32 by the intermeshing serrated surfaces. When, onthe other hand the screw coupling of the cap 35 to the coupling block 28is released by removal of the bolt 36 the spring 38 forces the cap 35and collar member 31 apart and, in view of the fact that the upper endof the square sectioned coupling block 28 is located in the squaresectioned bore 40 formed in the cap 35, rotation of the cap 35 whilstaccompanied by rotation of the coupling block 28 is not accompanied byrotation of the collar member 31.

Pivotally mounted with respect to the transverse outer wall 6 of the lidportion 2 on a pivotal axle 4' is a pivotal catch 42 constituting adetent having at one end a retaining shoulder 42a and at the other endan abutment nose 42b. A compression spring 43 bears at one end on afixed portion of the lid portion 2 and at the other end is located in arecess 44 formed in the catch 42, the spring 43 thereby tending torotate the catch 42 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5.

There is furthermore provided in the upper portion of the lid anemergency release mechanism 45 which consists of a plug 46 which isslidable in a transverse aperture 47 formed in the lid region 7. Securedto the plug 46 is a press pin 48 which projects out of a side wall 49 ofthe lid portion 2 and is screw-coupled to the plug 46. Secured to theplug 46 at a surface thereof remote from the press pin 48 is a releasepin 50 which is also slidable within an appropriate aperture formed inthe lid portion 2, the outer tip of the release pin 50 bearing on theabutment nose 42b of the catch 42. The plug 46 is biased outwardly withrespect to the lid portion 2 by means of a compression spring 51 whichbears at one end on the plug 46 and at the other end on a fixed portionof the lid portion 2. The plug 46 is inhibited in its outward motionunder the influence of the spring 51 by its abutting an appropriateshoulder 52 formed in the lid portion 2.

The mode of operation of the time controlled container so as to allowfor its effective locking and its being periodically rendered capable ofopening will now be described.

The normal location of the control components when the container islocked is asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings whilst theposition of the components just prior to opening of the container is asshown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 when the container is in a lockedcondition the locking member 8 is latched to the fixed anchoring member14, the flange 14a of the latter being located in the recess 80 betweenthe semibarbed end 8a and rounded end 8b of the locking memher 8.Downward movement of the locking member 8 under the influence of thelimb 18b of the spring 18 so as to open the locking mechanism isprevented in view of the fact that the shoulder of the locking member 8bears on the fixed abutment 17. At the same time, the fact that the limb18c of the spring 18 bears against the locking member 8 results in thelocking member 8 being firmly pressed against the anchoring member 14thereby preventing accidental opening, as a result of possiblevibration.

During this time the releasing arm 33 of the releasing disc 32 isretained between the fixed abutment 155 and the retaining shoulder 42aof the pivoted catch 42. It is thus not possible torotatably displacethe releasing disc 32 and releasing lever 33 by rotation of the cap 35which is meshingly coupled to the collar 31 which is in its turn coupledto the releasing disc 32. Therefore, as long as the releasing arm 33 ofthe releasing disc 32 is locked, as described above, rotation of the cap35 is itself prevented except when, as indicated above, and for apurpose still to be described the meshing engagement between the cap 35and the collar 31 is released by the removal of the bolt 36.

Now, the clockwork mechanism 20 having been previously tensioned, bymeans to be described below, operates so as to cause the rotation of thedriven disc 22 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. Aftera predetermined time interval, which depends on the initial angularposition of the releasing lug 23 secured to the driven disc 22, thereleasing lug 23 will have been rotatably displaced sufficiently to bearagainst the retaining shoulder 42a of the pivoted catch 42. The latterwill be pivotally displaced in a clockwise direction about its axle 41and against the biasing effect of the spring 43 sufficiently for theretaining shoulder 42a no longer to be located adjacent the releasinglever 33. When this has occurred rotation of the cap 35, which is nowfacilitated, is transmitted via the collar 31 to the releasing disc 32and the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5until the releasing limb 33 is disposed adjacent the branch limb 16 ofthe locking member 8. Continued rotation of the releasing disc 32results in the end portion 34 of the limb 33 displacing the shoulder 15from off the fixed abutment 17 whereupon the locking member 8 is presseddownwardly under the influence of the limb 18b of the leaf spring 18.The rounded end 8b of the locking member 8 slides over the flange 14a ofthe fixed anchoring member 14 and the locking member 8 disengages fromthe anchoring member 14 and the container can be opened by the tiltingof its lid portion 2 with respect to the body portion 3 about the axle4.

As a consequence of the downward motion of the locking member 8 underthe influence of the leaf spring 18 during release, the toothed portion16a of the branch limb 16 engages the peripheral serrations of thedriven disc 22 and in consequence, and as long as this engagementpersists (i.e., as long as the container is open) the driven disc 22 isprevented from rotating and so the clockwork mechanism 20 stopsoperating.

Additionally, with the downward motion of the locking member 8 and theconsequent disengagement of the enclosing member 14, the downward andsideward motion of the rounded end 8b with respect to the flange 4aresults in the application of a sidewardly directed force to theanchoring member 14. As a result a slight opening of the container iseffected.

At the same time, however, as the cap 35 is rotated so as to causerotation of the releasing disc 32, the tensioning disc 26 which isdirectly coupled to the coupling block 28 is also rotatably displaced(in view of the fact that the square sectioned coupling block 28 matesin the correspondingly square sectioned coupling bore 40 formed in thecap 35. With the continued rotation of the tensioning disc 26 withrespect to the driven disc 22 the engaging lugs 29a and 29b willrespectively abut the tensioning lugs 24a and 24b and the continedrotation of the tensioning disc 26 will cause the correspondingtensioning rotation of the driven disc 22 thereby automaticallytensioning the clockwork mechanism 20.

It is thus seen that the one and the same action by the clockworkmechanism so as to put it in the required tension for subsequentoperation.

When the cap 35 has been fully rotated so that the end 34 of thereleasing arm 33 strikes the branch 16 of the locking member 8 so as tocause the releasing mechanism to operate, this rotation of the cap 35will have taken place against the biasing effect of the spring 38. Thuswhen the cap 35 is released by the operator it will return to itsoriginal position under the tensioning effect exerted by the spring 38and will therefore return to the original positions both the releasingdisc 32 and the tensioning disc 26. With the return of the releasingdisc. to its original position the releasing arm 33 will again becomelocked between the fixed abutment and the retaining shoulder 42a of thecatch member 42 (it will be realised that the reverse rotation of thedriven disc 22 which takes place when it is being tensioned during theopening procedure by the rotation of the cap 35 displaces the releasinglug 23 from abutment with the catch 42 of the releasing lug 23 andtherefore allows the catch 42 to pivot back into its initial positionunder the influence of the compression spring 43).

As indicated above the predetermined times at which the lockingmechanism becomes releasable are determined by the relative angularposition of the releasing lug 23. The mechanism just described providesmeans for varying this angular position as desired and thereby varyingthe time intervals involved. This can be effected as follows. If, whenthe mechanism is in a locked condition, i.e., the releasing limb 33 isretained between the flxed abutment 155 and the retaining shoulder 42aof the catch 42 the screw 36 is removed, the compression spring 38 willforce the cap 35 away from the collar 31 thereby disengaging the cap 35from the collar with which it has previously been in meshed engagement.If now the cap 35 is rotated this will result in the rotation of thecoupling member 28 and the corresponding rotation of the tensioning disc26 without however leading to the rotation of the releasing disc 32which remains locked. Thus, the angular position of the tensioning disc26 can be varied as desired as of course can be the angular position ofthe tensioning lugs 29a and 2%. This variation of the initial angularposition of the tensioning lugs 29a and 29b carries with it as aconsequence that the ultimate position of the releasing lug 23 attachedto the driven disc 22 will depend on the final position to which thisdriven disc is rotated by the tensioning lugs 29a and 29b during thetensioning procedure which will take place prior to the opening of thebox. Thus, if it is arranged that the engaging lugs 29a and 29b areinitially spaced from the tensioning lugs 24a and 24b by a relativelylarge angular spacing then the predetermined time interval involved willbe relatively short whilst if it is arranged that this angular spacingis relatively small then the time intervals involved will becorrespondingly long.

The mechanism just described can be provided with visual means wherebyit can be readily seen what are the predetermined time intervals and/orthe remaining time before opening can take place. Thus, the outertransverse wall 6 of the box can be provided, opposite the tensioningdisc, with a transparent window and the relative angular position of thedisc can be observed and in this way a visual indication is given of thetime intervals involved.

If for any reason the user wishes to circumvent the time controlledmechanism just described (for example, as a consequence of a breakdownof the time controlled mechanism, or where in emergencies the user musthave access to the contents of the box) the emergency release mechanism45 can be employed. Thus inward displacement of the press pin 48 againstthe strong counter-bias effected by the compression spring 51 results ina corresponding inward displacement of the release pin 50 which, bearingagainst the abutment nose 42b of the catch 42, causes a pivotaldisplacement of the catch 42 similar to that caused by the abuttalthereon by the release lug 23 during the normal operation of the timecontrolled mechanism. With such pivotal displacement of the catch 42opening of the box can be effected in a manner identical to thatdescribed above for normal time controlled operation.

Closing of the container is simply effected by restor ing the lidportion 2 to a closed position whereupon the locking member 8 is pushedupwardly by the anchoring member 14 whilst the limb 18c of leaf spring18 pushes the locking member 8 to the left as shown in FIG. 3 so thatthe flange 14a engages between the barbed portion 8a and the roundedportion 8b. At the same time the shoulder 15 is replaced on the fixedabutment 17 thereby preventing the downward displacement of the lockingmember 8 under the influence of the limb 18b of the leaf spring 18. Withthe upward displacement of the locking member 8 during closing thetoothed portion 16a of the branch limb 16 is disengaged from theperipheral serration 25 of the driven disc 22 and thus, with the closingof the container, the driven disc 22 can begin to rotate under theinfluence of the clockwork mechanism and will, after this predeterminedperiod, result in rendering the box capable of being opened. Y

Whilst in the specific arrangement described above release of thelocking member 8 takes place as a result of facilitating the downwarddisplacement of the member 8 under the influence of the spring 18b andthe provisiOn of the elongated aperture 11, a simplified arrangement maybe envisaged wherein the spring 18b as well as the elongated aperture 11are dispensed with and release of the locking member 8 is simplyeffected by its displacement by the releasing arm 33 and thesimultaneous opening of the box. it will be understood that, in thiscase, if the box is not simultaneously opened the spring 180 will againforce the locking member 8 back into locking engagement.

It will thus be seen that the time controlled mechanism just describedfacilitates the production of a container, whether a cigarette containeror container of other commodities, to which access can or should be hadonly at predetermined intervals, means being provided that the clockworkmechanism inherent in such a mechanism is automatically tensioned priorto the opening of the box and as a result of the operations inherent inopening the box. Furthermore, simple means are provided whereby thepredetermined times can be readily varied. Finally, the mechanism justdescribed can, if desired, be provided with an additional means wherebythe box can be opened in emergencies without waiting for the clockworkmechanism as a whole to operate.

I claim:

1. A container having a time controlled locking mechanism comprising atleast two portions coupled together for movement into and out of aclosing relationship, latch means located within the container andcomprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled tosaid portions for locking said portions together, a releasing memberlocated in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessiblefrom outside the container and coupled to the releasing member,displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter intoreleasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biaseddisplaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in thelocking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasingmember, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivinglycoupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of saiddisplacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement ofthe detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the releasemember for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manuallyactuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element sothat the displacement of the former required to effect releasingdisplacement of the releasing member is accompanied by displacement ofthe displacing element in an opposite direction thereby causingtensioning of the clockwork mechanism.

2. A container according to claim I, wherein said latching members arespring biased into locking engagement.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein one of said latchingmembers located in the other portion is fixed and the other of saidlatching members located in said one portion is capable of limiteddisplacement into and out of locking engagement, first spring meansbeing provided for biasing said other latching member into a disengagingposition, and fixed abutment means against which said other latchingmember is adapted to abut so as to inhibit its displacement by saidfirst spring means, said other latching member comprising an elongatedbar pivotally mounted on an axle in such a manner as to allow forlimited movement in an axial direction second spring means beingprovided for retaining said latching members in locking engagement whensaid portions are in said closing relationship, the arrangement beingsuch that the releasing engagement of said other latching member withsaid releasing member displaces said other latching member from abutmentwith said fixed abutment means and frees it for displacement by saidfirst spring means.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said other latching memberis provided with means which is adapted to engage with said displacingelement upon the disengaging displacement of said other latching memberby said first spring means so as to prevent displacement of thedisplacing element by the clockwork mechanism in the unlocked conditionof the container.

5. A container according to claim 3, wherein said first and secondspring means are constituted by the respective limbs of a leaf springand are separated by a turned over portion of the leaf spring which ismounted on a fixed support.

6. A container according to claim I, wherein said manually actuatablemeans is spring biased against displacement.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein means are provided forvarying at will the magnitude of said predetermined displacement and, inconsequence, the timing frequency of said locking mechanism.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein visual means are providedfor indicating the timing frequency and/or remaining cycle time of thelocking mechanism.

9. A container according to claim 7, wherein said manually actuatablemeans is coupled to said tensioning means via a clutch mechanism, meansbeing provided for engaging or releasing said clutch mechanism so thatdisplacement of said manually actuatable means is accompanied either byjoint displacement of the tensioning means and release member or by thedisplacement of said tensioning means with respect to said releasemember.

l0. A container according to claim 9, wherein said manually actuatablemeans comprises a rotatable cap coupled to-said release member and viasaid clutch mechanism to said tensioning means.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein said clutch mechanismcomprises a pair of meshable serrated surfaces formed on or coupled tosaid cap and said tensioning means respectively, means for causing saidsurfaces to intermesh against spring biasing means tending to keep themapart.

12. A container according to claim ll, wherein said cap is coupled tosaid tensioning means by means of a polygonally sectioned coupling blocksecured at one end to the tensioning means and located at the other endin a corresponding polygonally shaped aperture formed in said cap whilstsaid releasing member is secured to a cylindrically apertured collarwhich surrounds said block, corresponding surfaces of said collar andcap being formed with said serrated surfaces.

13. A container according to claim 12, wherein the means for causingsaid surfaces to intermesh consists of a screw coupling said cap to saidblock, a coil spring being located in a cylindrical annular recessformed in said cap and serving on the one hand to bias said cap againstrotary displacement thereof and, on the other hand to bias saidintermeshing surfaces apart.

14. A container according to claim 1, wherein there is furthermoreprovided a displaceable element adapted to bear against said detent andmeans accessible from outside the container for displacing said elementagainst spring biasing so as to cause said displacement of said detentagainst its biasing.

* I III

1. A container having a time controlled locking mechanism comprising atleast two portions coupled together for movement into and out of aclosing relationship, latch means located within the container andcomprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled tosaid portions for locking said portions together, a releasing memberlocated in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessiblefrom outside the container and coupled to the releasing member,displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter intoreleasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biaseddisplaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in thelocking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasingmember, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivinglycoupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of saiddisplacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement ofthe detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the releasemember for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manuallyactuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element sothat the displacement of the former required to effect releasingdisplacement of the releasing member is accompanied by displacement ofthe displacing element in an opposite direction thereby causingtensioning of the clockwork mechanism.
 2. A container according to claim1, wherein said latching members are spring biased into lockingengagement.
 3. A cOntainer according to claim 2, wherein one of saidlatching members located in the other portion is fixed and the other ofsaid latching members located in said one portion is capable of limiteddisplacement into and out of locking engagement, first spring meansbeing provided for biasing said other latching member into a disengagingposition, and fixed abutment means against which said other latchingmember is adapted to abut so as to inhibit its displacement by saidfirst spring means, said other latching member comprising an elongatedbar pivotally mounted on an axle in such a manner as to allow forlimited movement in an axial direction second spring means beingprovided for retaining said latching members in locking engagement whensaid portions are in said closing relationship, the arrangement beingsuch that the releasing engagement of said other latching member withsaid releasing member displaces said other latching member from abutmentwith said fixed abutment means and frees it for displacement by saidfirst spring means.
 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein saidother latching member is provided with means which is adapted to engagewith said displacing element upon the disengaging displacement of saidother latching member by said first spring means so as to preventdisplacement of the displacing element by the clockwork mechanism in theunlocked condition of the container.
 5. A container according to claim3, wherein said first and second spring means are constituted by therespective limbs of a leaf spring and are separated by a turned overportion of the leaf spring which is mounted on a fixed support.
 6. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein said manually actuatable meansis spring biased against displacement.
 7. A container according to claim1, wherein means are provided for varying at will the magnitude of saidpredetermined displacement and, in consequence, the timing frequency ofsaid locking mechanism.
 8. A container according to claim 7, whereinvisual means are provided for indicating the timing frequency and/orremaining cycle time of the locking mechanism.
 9. A container accordingto claim 7, wherein said manually actuatable means is coupled to saidtensioning means via a clutch mechanism, means being provided forengaging or releasing said clutch mechanism so that displacement of saidmanually actuatable means is accompanied either by joint displacement ofthe tensioning means and release member or by the displacement of saidtensioning means with respect to said release member.
 10. A containeraccording to claim 9, wherein said manually actuatable means comprises arotatable cap coupled to said release member and via said clutchmechanism to said tensioning means.
 11. A container according to claim10, wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a pair of meshable serratedsurfaces formed on or coupled to said cap and said tensioning meansrespectively, means for causing said surfaces to intermesh againstspring biasing means tending to keep them apart.
 12. A containeraccording to claim 11, wherein said cap is coupled to said tensioningmeans by means of a polygonally sectioned coupling block secured at oneend to the tensioning means and located at the other end in acorresponding polygonally shaped aperture formed in said cap whilst saidreleasing member is secured to a cylindrically apertured collar whichsurrounds said block, corresponding surfaces of said collar and capbeing formed with said serrated surfaces.
 13. A container according toclaim 12, wherein the means for causing said surfaces to intermeshconsists of a screw coupling said cap to said block, a coil spring beinglocated in a cylindrical annular recess formed in said cap and servingon the one hand to bias said cap against rotary displacement thereofand, on the other hand to bias said intermeshing surfaces apart.
 14. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein there is furthermore provided adisplaceable element adapted to bear against said deTent and meansaccessible from outside the container for displacing said elementagainst spring biasing so as to cause said displacement of said detentagainst its biasing.